In this photo taken on May 11, 2011 some check-in desks stand empty at the new Central airport in Ciudad Real, Spain. Ciudad Real’s Central airport, one of Spain’s “ghost airports,” expensive projects that were virtually unused and which became a symbol of the country’s wasteful spending during a construction boom received just one bid in a bankruptcy auction on Friday July 17, 2015. after costing some 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) to build. The buyer’s offer: 10,000 euros. Spanish news agency Europa Press said Chinese group Tzaneen International tabled the bid in Friday’s auction. The receiver had set a minimum price of 28 million euros. If no better bid is received by September, the sale will go through. less

In this photo taken on May 11, 2011 some check-in desks stand empty at the new Central airport in Ciudad Real, Spain. Ciudad Real’s Central airport, one of Spain’s “ghost airports,” ... more

Photo: (AP Photo/Paul White)

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FILE - In this May 11, 2011 file photo, the new Central airport control tower is framed behind an airport sign in Ciudad Real, Spain. Ciudad Real’s Central airport, one of Spain’s “ghost airports,” expensive projects that were virtually unused and which became a symbol of the country’s wasteful spending during a construction boom received just one bid in a bankruptcy auction on Friday July 17, 2015. after costing some 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) to build. The buyer’s offer: 10,000 euros. Spanish news agency Europa Press said Chinese group Tzaneen International tabled the bid in Friday’s auction. The receiver had set a minimum price of 28 million euros. If no better bid is received by September, the sale will go through. less

FILE - In this May 11, 2011 file photo, the new Central airport control tower is framed behind an airport sign in Ciudad Real, Spain. Ciudad Real’s Central airport, one of Spain’s “ghost ... more

Photo: (AP Photo/Paul White, File)

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Costly Spanish ‘ghost airport’ gets 1 meager bid at auction

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MADRID >> One of Spain’s “ghost airports” — expensive projects that were virtually unused — received just one bid in a bankruptcy auction after costing some 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) to build. The buyer’s offer: 10,000 euros.

Ciudad Real’s Central airport, about 235 kilometers (150 miles) south of Madrid, became a symbol of the country’s wasteful spending during a construction boom that ended with the financial crisis of 2008, the year the airport opened. The operator of the airport went bankrupt in 2012 after it failed to draw enough traffic.

Chinese group Tzaneen International tabled the single bid in Friday’s auction, Spanish news agency Europa Press said. The receiver had set a minimum price of 28 million euros. If no better bid is received by September, the sale will go through, the news agency said.

Tzaneen International reportedly plans to invest up to 100 million euros in the airport and make it a cargo hub. The offer is for the airport infrastructure only, not adjacent land.

Central has one of Europe’s longest runways and was designed to handle 2.5 million passengers a year.